Electric switch



1932- H. w. BATCHELLER. 1,870,599

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 9, 1929 a zmznidim Patented Aug. 9, 1932PATENT OFFICE HUGH W. BATGHELLER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRICSWITCH Application filed April 9, 1929. Serial No. 353,779.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a simple and durableelectric switch which includes a movable circuit closer of such form andconstruction that it is free from liability to be fused or otherwiseinjured or disabled in performing its function, and actuated by a handpiece or carrier which is movable to close and break the circuit inwhich the switch is included,eeither by rotation or rectilinear movementof the hand iece.

p Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Of the accompanyingdrawing formmg a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a sectional View of a; swltch embodying one form of theinvention, the circuit closer being shown in its circuit-closingposition.

Figure'2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1. a

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2,

showing the circuit closer in its circuit-breaking position. I

, Figure 4 shows in perspectlve the conductors shown by Figures '1, 2and 3, and their gap-separated terminals.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hand piece or carrier shown byFigure 1.,

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing a modification. v

Figure 8 is a side view of a switch embodying another and the preferredform of the invention.

igures 9 and 10 are sectional views of the body and carrier shown byFigure 8, the

conductors being omitted. I

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Figures, showingthe conductors.

Figure 12 is afragmentary rear view looking toward the inner side of theportion shown by Figure 11. The same reference characters indicate thesame parts in all of the figures.

The switch shown by Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, comprises an insulatingbody 12, preferably composed of bakelite. Fixed in said body andinsulated from each other thereby, are two spaced apart conductors 13,each extending through the body and provided at the inner side thereofwith gapseparated terminals 14, formed to contact simultaneously withthe movable circuit closer hereinafter described, the terminals beingbent at right angles with the conductors and bearing on the inner sideof the body 12. Each terminal is provided with a recess 15 (Figures 2and 3) for a purpose hereinafter described.

An insulating carrier, composed of a cylindrical body portion or handpiece 16 having a flange 17, is movably connected with the body 12 by aframe which includes a central portion having an orifice 18 constitutinga bearing-in which the hand piece is rotatable, oppositely projectingears 19, adapted to be attached to a structure supporting the switch,and hooked ears 2O engaged with the outer side of the body 12, as shownby Figure 1, said ears confining the body 12 and hand piece flange 17spaced apart, the terminals 14 being between the body and the flange.

Circuit closing means, preferably composed of two metallic conductingmembers, which may be either balls 21, or slugs 21a (Figure 7), ismovable by the rotation of the hand piece 16 to either of the twopredetermined positions shown by Figures 2 and 3. When said members arein Figure 2 position, they contact simultaneously with the terminals 14and bridge the gap to close the circuit, and when they are in Figure 3position, the gap is not bridged and the circuit is broken, the members21 entering the recesses 15.

The circuit closing members are guided and positively controlled by thehand piece and are pressed yieldingly by springs 23, toward theterminals 14, the springs and portions of said members being containedin longitudinal sockets 24: in the handpiece. The springs act throughthe members 21 to press the carrier flange 17 against the frame center.

Figures 8 to 12, inclusive, show a simplified and more compactconstruction, eliminating the frame above described. In said figures,the body designated by 25, has a flat back and is attachable, as byscrews 26, formed in the inserted in a recess 32 (Figure 9) formed inthe flat back of the body, their outer sides being flush withsaid back.The body is provided with metallic bushings 33, whose outer ends projectinto the recess 32, and enter holes formed for their reception in theconductors 31. Said ends are reduced in thickness to 1 enable them to beupset on the conductors and thereby secure the latter to the body, asshown by Figure 11. The bushings are tapped to engage binding screws34., which secure conductin wires 35 to the conductors 31.

TheTody is provided with a stop shoulder 36 (Figure 9) which cooperateswith a complemental stop shoulder 37 on the hand piece 29, in limitingoutward movement of the hand piece in the bearing 28. The conductors areprovided with terminals 38, formed like the terminals 14 abovedescribed, and separated from each other by a gap coinciding with theaxis of the hand piece 29. V The circuit closer includes two members 39,

backed by springs 40, said members and the conductor terminals 38functioning like the members 21 and terminals 14 above described.

The switch last described has several advantages over that 'shownbyFigures 1 to 7, including simplicity and compactness, and the ease andconvenience with which. its parts ma be assembled. The body 25 may be moded in a variety of ornamental forms, with the bushin s 33 embedded init, andthe recess 32 forme in its back. The hand piece 29 is insertiblein the bearing from the back of the body, its insertion being limited bythe stops 36 and 37. After the insertion of the hand piece in the body,the springs 40 and members 39 may be dropped into the carrier sockets,and the conductors 31 may be secured to the body, the assembly beingthus completed, the terminals of the conductors pre venting escape ofthe members 39 from the sockets. The stop member 37 of the hand piece isconfined ,againstthe stop member 36 of the body by the conjoint actionof the springs and the members 39, the springs pressing said membersagainst the conductor terminals.

Itwill be seen thatin each of the described embodimentsof the invention,the switch is provided with a bearing in which the hand piece isrotatable on an axis coinciding with the gap separating the conductorterminals,

I and that the circuit closing members are eccentric to said axis andmovable from one predetermined position to the other by a partialrotation of the hand piece, the bearing hand piece designated by 16' inFigures 1 to 7 and by-29,-. 30 in Figures 8 and 10.

Said hand piece projects outward from the body at an invariable angletherewith, there being no swinging or pivotal connection between thehand piece and the body, so that the structure does not include theelement of weakness involved by such swinging or pivotal connection.

The hand piece and the gap bridging or circuit closing means carriedthereby constitute a compact element of the switch, adapted to beconveniently assembled with the other elements, and free, as abovestated,

from pivotal or swinging connections therewith, so that the switch as awhole is of strong, simple and durable construction.

I claim:

1. Anelectric switch comprising an insulating body adapted to be fixedto a support and provided with a bearing constituting a guiding meanswhereby a movable hand iece may be rotatably guided in opposite rectionsin a predetermined-path relative to said body, spaced apart conductorsfixed to the body and insulated from each other thereby, said conductorshaving gap-separated terminalsvformed to contact simultaneously withcircuit closing means, a circuit closer includmg an insulatin rotatablehand piece projecting outward rom said body and adapted to turn inopposite directions in said bearing and spring pressed circuit closingmeans movable 1n and guided by the hand piece and yieldingly projectedfrom the inner end thereof, toyieldingly enter'and bridge said gap whenthe hand piece is turned in one direction, and retreat from the gap whenthe hand piece is turned in the opposite direction, the

and piece being maintained at an invariable angle with the body by saidbearing.

2. An electric switch as specified'by claim 1, the circuit closing meansbeing embodied in two members movable in the rotatable hand piece atopposite sides of the axis thereof, and springs yieldingly projectingsaid members from the inner end of the hand piece.

3. An electric switch as specified by claim '1, the circuit closingmeans being embodied in two members movable in the rotatable hand pieceat oppositesides of the axis thereof, and springs yield ngly projectingsaid mem-v and guided in a predetermined path thereby, y

hers from the inner end of the hand piece, the carrier being insertiblein said hearing from the inner end of the body, the hand piece and bodybeing provided with complemental stop members maintained in contact Witheach other by said springs.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

HUGH W. BATCHELLER.

